Maple Leafs, Panthers Face Decisive Game 7 in NHL Playoffs

Game 7 of the NHL Playoffs Second Round between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers is a high-stakes matchup with the winner advancing to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final. The Panthers have generally dominated puck possession and scoring chances throughout the series, with key players like Carter Verhaeghe and Brad Marchand expected to make significant impacts, including Verhaeghe's prop bet for over 2.5 shots and Marchand's likelihood to record a point. Toronto's Auston Matthews and William Nylander are also pivotal, with Nylander having multiple goals against Florida this season and Matthews carrying the shortest odds to score in the game. The Panthers enter as 1.5-goal favorites with a slight edge in money line odds, supported by projections favoring their win probability above 50%. Both teams have struggled with consistency in scoring in recent games, adding to the uncertainty and excitement of this winner-take-all game. The outcome will determine who moves forward in the Stanley Cup playoffs, with strong implications for individual player accolades like the Conn Smythe trophy.